The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-19
GREAT GAMES OF CAANuE.
"Reminiscences of the Days When Big None,
Was Lost and Won.

"Reminiscences of the Days When Big Money
Was Lost and Won.
Long Branch Letter in Philadelphia Times.
Few of the ancient gamesters who were good
for one month at the West End are here now.
They are. almost all, gathered 20 their fathers,
and the click of ivory chips, or Abe MARKS
cheerful uoce saving, at faro, Gentlemen, This
is a pleasant call" interest these no more
But L found one genial old-timer, once OF
Philadelphia, still lingering amid the joys OF the
Bradcn, nor does he lag superfuous on the
stage, for at 90 years of age he takes as deep an
interest In buying and selling stocks on wall
street. long aud short, he did when he left
Philadelphia and the wool business after the
war with ducats to the amount of 900, most
clover flower on the lapel of his coat and seemed
TO carry about him the perfume of perennial
youth. 1t was John Ponder. At the support
table of the West End, as John slipped his For
mosa." he told many interesting incidents OF by
gone days and of the great games OF Wash
ington and New York. He pointed out to me
old Ben Wood, of New York, the willy Congress
man Fernando Woods brother. q cadaverous-
looking old man, who says he 10 only sixty-nv
years old, but with parchment face, he looks
to be 100 Ben Wood is tho hero of the GREATEST
game of faro ever played in America game
without limit-at which in the early morning
hours, after all mig its play. he rose up after
winning from John Morrissey in his own gamb-
hng-house, in Twenty-fourth street, $l60, 900.
No wonder John Morrissey died poor.
The supper-tabl BILE was cleared away. and John
7. Thomas. the oss-waiter, who rules l25 serv.
ants at the Westend with the discipline OF q
martinez stood like Troussaint pOuverture.
ready to close the supper-room But Jack Pom
der went on with his story. thus:
young man, it has been thirty odd years
since saw young lawyer win 5000 from Joe
Hall in Philadelphia, and twenty five years
(I862l since l won $4,000 at Pendleton's game
in Washington. Money plenty then. But
/ am too old to play nowhere is not the same
fire in my veins, although l do go over to Phil
Days and play little cribbage in the evening
only to pass away the time
"But"-and the old mans eyes frightened
like war horse snufing the battle from afar
but l do remember the biggest game of
baccarat ever played in this. and. as far as I
know. In any other country. had moved to
New York. Schuyler and Jimmy Watson, tho
latter one of the best known sports in the
State of New York, kept baccarat game at
No. IL West Twenty fourth street, New
YORK. This game was just becoming popular
In this country. Jimmy Watson had invited
August, Belmont, Lloyd, Phoenix, Charles
Keep, myself, and one or two others need not
And it was dinner. He gave to understand
that a little game might be expected after din
ner, and without limit.
81 got all the wine 1 wanted and was in bad
luck. Six hundred dollars was mutually agreed
upon between US players as the limit for each
turn.
II played till o'clock in the morning and to
my disgust found myself 81, 500 out and up
from the table thinking had enough to last me
all night and lay down on sofa in the front
room, till Charley Keep woke me up to take
OotJio OF champagne / was NOT TOO sleepy TO
do that My courage woke up, TOO. Keeps
father-in-law was worth So. 000 000 and he him
self commanded unlimited cash, as did every
man the BOARD. | said: Charley, give me
$1,000 He faid: Certainly. and much
more you want went it again.
with varying fortune, pausine to hold
my breath with astonishment to
see Belmont make bet of $780, 900 on one turn.
Belmont won. By O'clock in the morning lit
hot August night in 1871 was winner
of $11, 0GO, besides paying my 81. 900 debt to
Keep and outside of my loss early in the even
ing of $4,000 Lloyd Phoenix won, too. We
nearly busted Jimmy Watson. for the entire
party took from the bank that August night
$780, 000 Jimmy Watson had to moatgage al.
his stud of fine race-horses and his Jereey
farms, and what became of him then I know
not; but that was great night"
Ponder paused. His eyes mad far-off look.
He rose up, handed the head waiter V, and
said with impressment:
Young man, don't gam ble."